Discuss the difficulty of increasing transparency and accountability in private prisons. What are some steps that the government has taken to improve oversight and how have those attempts been impeded by prison companies?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Due to the secluded and secure nature of most prisons, public or private, it is naturally difficult to achieve effective oversight. Private prisons, however, are often much more difficult to monitor due to resistance on behalf of the prison operators. Some companies argue that revealing too much information about their practices could give their competitors an advantage. Monitors of the company are often employees or residents of the jurisdiction in which the facility is located and thus have a personal interest in ensuring that the facility stays open regardless of its performance. The government has attempted to force private prisons to maintain the same levels of transparency that is expected of public prisons through the Private Prison Information Act and similar legislation, but successful lobbying on behalf of the private prison industry has thus far blocked the legislation from taking effect.